Of- niag-araifali-g



Sept -l, 1925. 1,55'15531 E. ARMSTRONG Hwa can Filed Aug. 2.9, 1924 2 Shasta-Shut l y 27 /Nl/NTO I EL/T Alf/757m Sept. l, 1925'.

, E. 4mmsmows;

mum muuu Filed Aug.

/N VEN fog? L/07' ARMSTRONG 29. '1924 -2 Sheets-Shut 2 A fr@ ,QA/5:45.

of haine Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

nLror AnMs'rRONa-or Nnieiinai'rangts; NEW voisin? ris-sismos 'ro NIAGARA'METAL s'rAMPrNG oon-Ponga.,Trein or @NIAGARA FALLS; New YORSK.

RAME yferritin.

Application filed August), 1924:.'l lSerial No. 734,891.

Be ity linoivnftlia't l, Error- ARMsTROivG, a citizen of the -United States, residing .Y at Niagara Falls, inthe county of Niagara? and State' of ,Nervi York, have 'invented a new and Y .useful 'Iinproveinent in yHainekk Chains, of rivvhichthel following v.is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable haine chains, or -fasteners,l.and more particular-lvm fasteners of this sort Which-comprise Va chain adapted vto 4vhe at-l tacliecltolan endof one haine ant asecuringand tightening VHeinher adapted to he attached tothe-endv of the other haine and having' means whereby thechainniayvhe ad- Fig.- 5 is afplanview thereonpartlyfinV i section, showing the pivotal connections'he- A ktvveen the chain'connecting nie-inber, operat ing' lever and bodyinember.'

Fig'. Gis a planvievv, on a reduced scale',

lof* the blank frein which the operatiig1,le-

justahly connectedv theretoA to 'dr-aivthe haines eloselyonY the collar, byfineans of a swinging lever. H

The inainf objects ofthe yinvention are to `provide a liainefastenery of this sort which is constructed entirely of sheet metalY stamp ings; alsojto construct a fastener-Which inay be adjusted inore' tightly Ithan usual Iby;

hand, softliatwhenthe swinging lleverfis.l actuated to close fthefastener; averyy secure Y connection is provided vwhich insures that?. the haines Will he drawn tightly on the col-` lar; also to iinprovethe construction of the the: body portions or Iineinliersof lianie fasteners so-fthat these lnieinbers Willvnot 4injure theV collars with which they engage; also to pro-vide an improved chain 'for use With tieners of this sort and to 'provide improved means engaging f the cha-in to fpernritithechain 'to `be'ea-silv:adjusted Aand retained inI any'desired position, Without'detaching` 'or taking the fastening` apart.

Another object ofthe inventionis tosinif of the fastener with theparts in cosedpesition is `a.longitiid-inalf vertical section' ver is formed. l y

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary planview fof the'v chain showing the means for obtaining'the various adjustments thereof.V Y i Fig.r 8 'isla y'pe'arspecti've view A'ofy ythefihaiii connecting ineniher,` on 'a reduced scale.

Figs. 9 and 'v10' are views-similary towFigs;a

1 fand 2,"sh'oi ving a modified forni 'of haine.

fastener. V` .Y i.

Fig. 11 is apla view thereof,'pa1liy 'ill' section. d

F ig'. 12 'is Y 1 tiontliereof Withthe :parts as in FigQQ.

YFig; 13'is 'a' tr which the operatin'glefrer thereof 'is forined.

, F 15 is an elevation of the lower or free c end'of the chainand they pullV or grip fory f actuating f-tlie chain.

Referring `firstV to Figs. 1 ;8, thehaine tener shown therein includes a chain'20h-av-k ingl connecting ineniberfrQQ for Y maintaining; a permanent connection between the chain QOLan-d a partr ofthe 'haine fastener. v

The chain also has anfadjusta'hle connection with a hooknieniher 2l for-f detachahly se'- curing the chain `tothe :haine 'loopa'of one ofthe hannes AQ. The links of the Ychain are "preferably forn'ied of sheet rnetalstarnpings andare each yprovided ivithia ,loop v93, andan eve Ql'ivhich enters the loop of an adjacent link. The chain 2O is adapted to pass freely. through an aperture `or opening 25 in the shank Aof ythe vhook 21 for permitting the distance between4 the haine' loops a to be i varied,'said aperture being, .in thev construction shown, substantially 1T V.shaped and4 hav- 'ingr anlenlarged portion which isf-v wide enough to allo'ivthe eye portions 24 topass therethrough, and a reduced portion .27 at `the end farthest reinoved from the hook Which coiinects'ivith the enlarged .portion of i i transverse i section thereof Ioni.;

the aperture into which the loop 23- ofa'iiy of the links :may enter.

Y l v ansverse sectional `'vie-iv`` thereof on line 1 3-13, l n ,Fig. 14 'isa face view of the blankfreinv longitudinal sectional Leleva'- v tion of Ythe chain f isA inthe reduced portions i of theV aperture, the'fchainovill he held :and releasaolv vconnectedgto the I.hook hv the en.

. gagenient with the leye of i thenent link with the shank of the hook and will be prevented from passing from the reduced portion 27 into the enlarged portion 25 as long as tension or pull is exerted on the hame fastener, through the connecting member 22. The free end of the chain 2O is prefer'- ably provided with a hand pull and retainer, see Fig. 15, formed of a single stamping 2()a having` at one end an eye 24a like the eyes 24 of the chain links, and at the other a pair of offset lugs 24b which provide a hand grip to enable the chain to be pulled tightly, these lugs also forming a retainer adapted to engage the side edges of the hook member 21 and prevent the chain from passing out of the aperture 25 when the haines are spread apart in attaching or detaching them from the collar.

The connecting member 22 is formed of a narrow strip of sheet metal bent upon itself to form at one end a loop 28 engaging in the eye of the first chain link, while the shank of the member is formed by lapping the two ends of the strip together. The con.- necting member is adapted to pivotally connect the chain 20 and hook member 21 to an operating and locking lever 30, and for this purpose the two ends of the metal strip are provided with integral, offset, rectangular portions, the adjacent pairs of which form pivots 32 of substantially square cross section adapted to extend into circular bearing holes 33 in longitudinally extending parallel webs 34 of the lever 30, and between which the shank of the member 22 extends. IThe intermediate portion of the shank of the connecting member 22 is preferably provid ed with rounded laterally extending ears 22a which are adapted to engage the adjacent end of the hook 21 and prevent the accidental disconnection of the member 22 from the reduced portion 27 of the aperture, and consequently loosening of the chain 20 when the fastening is adjusted, so that the connecting member 22 is in direct contact and centrally alined with the hook member 21. rEhe webs 34 of the lever 30 are connected at one end by a transverse web 35 forming a U- shaped member having a longitudinally eX- tending operating handle 36, while the other ends of the webs terminate in offset, outbent, rectangular pivot lugs 38 which are adapted to enter circular holes 39 in side webs 40 of a body member 41 and pivotally connect the lever 30 thereto. The operating or locking lever 30 is formed of a single sheet metal stamping, as shown in Fig. 6, which is bent on the dotted lines 3ba 38l to form the hanle 36 and pivot lugs 38 respectively. rlihe lugs 38 are easily formed by the stamping process and by their use provide a simple and direct means of connecting the lever 30 to the body member 41, as it is only necessary when assembling the fastening to bend the side webs 40 of the body member so as to straddle the lever 30 and engage the lugs 38 in the holes 39.

The body member is also formed of a sheet metal stamping and preferably comprises the side webs 40 and a back piece 42 connecting these webs to produce a U-shaped member adapted to straddle the lever 30. The body member, like the lever 30, is formed from a fiat blank, which is bent to the desired shape when assembling the fasteners to engage the pivots 38 in the holes 39. The back piece is preferably continued endwise at that end opposite the portions 4() to provide a connecting part whereby the hame fastening may be attached to the other hame loop a. This connection is in the form of a hook 43, the bottom of which engages the loop a and the free end being extended towards the opposite end of the body member for some distance beyond the loop a, and the body member is further provided with a resilient bent spring 44 secured to the under side of the back piece 42 and extending toward the end of the hook so that the distance between the spring and this hook end is less than the thickness of the hame loop a.

The spring, therefore, must be flexed to permit the hook to be connected to the loop, and when the connection has been made, restrains the hook from becoming accidentally detached.

The described construction of the body member 41 provides a relatively long and wide upper surface which is smooth and free from obstructions, and is lengthwise and transversely to fit closely to the collar and bear thereon over a considerable area. Further this formation is such collar or pinch portions thereof between the curved both member and other parts of the hame fasten- Y ing.

The hame fastening, constructed of sheet metal stampings, as described, is adapted to be inexpensively and expeditiously produced in large quantities. In assembling the fastening, the chain links are first connected and the connecting member 22 attached to one end of the chain, after which the'member 22 is passed through the aperture 25 of the hook member 21. rlhe flat blank for the lever 30 is now placed in relation to the connector 22 and the webs 34 bent so as to straddle the connector with the bearing holes 33 encircling the square pivots 32 thereof. The body member 41 is similarly arranged and bent so as to locate the pivot lugs 38 in the holes 39 thereof.

rlhe chain 20 is easily adjusted in the hook member 21 by pulling on the chain, and by drawing it as tightly as possible, a secure connection is had. The aperture 25 is large enough to permit the eyes 24 of the chain to pass easily through the enlarged portion vthe loop-:portion loffthe; kadjacent link and prevents the chain from slipping back. The chain may be;adjustediquitetightly by ghand,

and the subsequent locking movement lof the lever ..Will pl'ace-y an additional tensionv onl the. chain and other .parts ofiv thefastening and :hold thecloop in .thev reduced portion of the aperture. Byi throwingv the` :lever to. the

unlocking position the chain will-be loosened andmay be drawn inwardly through-the aperture ,Q5-as far;I as the handjpull v20?*-` to i permit fthe removal. oriattachment ofthe llames to thecollar,` Without takingthe at' tachment;apart.Y

In: the-,use vof the.:device,.tlie1 lever '30 is positioned. as iii-Fig. 2 Withfthepivots 32 at: the right ofthe. p-ivotsvSS, .and thehooks 2l and 43ers then attached to the hame loops a. The chain isvnow adjuste'diin the aperture.. Qyto draw the .hames A .as

tightly 1as=p'ossible..on the collar byhand. The lever 3() is now f. actuated' ltostrain or dra-W aup the `h ame 1 fastening by swinging it dovvnWand'ly andto the'left so. as to posi# tionzthe pivotsf'Q to the left beyond the :The modified form of-.:hame fasteningv shown 'in Figs. 945' isv alsov constructedfof sheetfmetal` stam-pings and comprises opposite hook-members 50, 51,- aniadjusting chain 52, a combinedl connecting.':memberv and operating or locking and-releasing lever53, anda body member 54. In this construction the hook `50 .isxconnected .directly to the member .53 bylateralgpivot lugsy 5,5 Vengaging inround Aholes 56. infthe side vveb portions '57;v off. the. member. p These vvebsl 57 are connectedbya transverse cross pie'ce`,58

and the .member yis providedfivith an integral handle 59 'Whichfmay' be formed-by: an

' extension ofaoneof the 'Y side Webs?. As

shown in Fig. 14,- the member 53 is formed from a flatblankiadapted: toilbe bent on .the dotted lines toproducethe Websf, cross piece 58,. handle 59, anda `pain-off.offset; lateralpivot lugs 60. .The stamping shapedas shown may be produced from .a relatively small: portion of stock Witlrvery little Waste.

f The pivot1lugs'60 .provide means forgpivetally connectingthe :member to the body member k54, as byengagingtheniin the round holes .6l inf'the side.` Webs .62 of said. body member. Thevvebs 62 ofthe body member 'are connected between vthe fends. by a substantially fiat intermediate member or back. .piece (ixadapted,y in lise, to engage/the collar,A and; atlztheendoppositethe holes'` 6l` by a cross piece 6 4 forming a slot or aper-V ture: 66 betweenx the: baclnpiece f 53 andz cross piece .64. The' chain 4152- is 1 connected idirectly to the hook-51; and isadapted to ;pass

through the(aperture- 66'1and' be iretained iii/adjusted position by; the engagement of the chain links in the reduced; portion ofthe aperture, as ,described in vconnection with the construction! shown in Figs. 1 148.

As.= in; the first: construction, the' 'hooksV 50,A 5l are engaged in the haine loo-psa: .While the parts gare lin the position shown.' in FigQflO with the pivots 55ml;y theleftwof the `pivots 60'. After the chainvQ has'been properly positioned iny the body member andi releasably connected thereto t:by engaging" one; ofA its links inthe vaperture 66,e.the;leverf59 'isf sfo swirl-1g` downwardly `and t'othe :rightlto carry the f pivots` -55 past= they pivots-60; and beyond the dead -center'as in'Fig. 9, Whereby t-he fas-tener is placed undervtensionwaind;

the haines A drawn tightly :on .the-collar.

The parts are-assembled as beforefdescribed, by bending the -flat blank. off the member 53'.

sc that the LWebs 62 stra'ddlefthehook50V to `engage the pivotsv .55 inthe holes, 56,.; and then by repeatingthis operationfiviththe body vmember the: pivots 60-are engaged-and.

retained in the-holes 6l. Thus: the partsv are all secured in operative relation` to fleach other by simple bending operations Without th'euse 'of rivets or journal pins or other sep arcate: fastening devices. -The-jstarnp-ings are. Aadaptedto be quickly' and cheaply made. from relatively small portions .lof-,stock with f theV minimum ofwastematerial. `.The fasteners ware light-,..strongf and i rdurable and. produce neat lfinished vappearanceto the harness on which. theyfareapplied.` l

i I claim as my invention :-v

Y' fl. In ans-article of the character described,y the combination ofga lone-piece ,sheet :metal bo'dy member having spaced side :flangesfan actuating and' locking lever formed of la single sheet Ymetal stamping having spaced Side Webs, said lever: being disposedbetvveen said lflanges .of .said body membery and .ha-'vf ing integralaoset portions adapted to .pivl

otally. connect said lever to said body member, vand a connecting member lcomprising a single sheet metal stampingformed-with-inf tegralA portions adapting it to -bevpivotally secured on said operating lever.

- 2. fin an article .of the character described, the combination of a one-piece sheet metal body ymember having spaced side lflanges,fan

actuating :andlocking lever formed of fa single sheetmetal stamping having spaced side Webs, said lever being disposed-.between said flanges of saidbody member -andhaving integral offset portions adapted. to .pivotally connect said lever to said body member, ya sheet metal-connecting,memberzdisfr.

posed' between the Websjof-safid leverand ha ungintegral'; portie-ns, adaptingQ-itto be. pivotally secured to said lever, a'cham at- Y disposed and oppositely directed lugs adapted to form pivotal connections between said link and said lever, and a chain attached to said connecting member, and means for adjusting and holding said chain in its adjusted positions. y

4. In an adjustable haine fastener, the combination of a chain, a member adapted to be secured to one of the haines and to which said chain is secured, a second member secured to the other hame and relatively to which said chain is adjustable, said chain comprising a plurality of links each having a wide portion and a narrow portion and said second member being formed with an aperture through which said link eyes may pass to permit said fastener to be adjusted and said aperture having a reduced portion adapted to receive said link loops to permit said chain to be adjusted and initially tightened, and to hold said chain in adjusted positions and prevent the passage of said link eyes therethrough, and a pivoted lever adapted to be actuated to exert a final tightening of said chain to cause said fastener to draw and hold the iames securely in position.

5. In an adjustable haine fastener, the combination of a chain, a member adapted to be secured to one of the haines and to which said chain is secured, a second member secured to the other hame and relatively to which said chain is adjustable, said chain comprising` a plurality of links each having a wide eye portion and a narrow loop portion, said second member being formed with a part having` an aperture therein provided with an enlarged portion adapted to permit the passage of said chain therethrough and a reduced portion adapted to receive the narrow loop portions of said chain links whereby said chain is adapted to be adjusted and initially tightened, and the portions of said part adjacent said reduced portion being adapted to engage the wide eye portions of said links to prevent movement of said chain in said aperture when said fastener is in locked position, and a pivoted lever adapted to be actuated to eX- ert a final tightening of said chain to cause said fastener to draw and hold the haines securely in position.

6. In an adjustable haine fastener, the combination of a sheet metal body member, a sheet metal actuating and locking lever pivoted thereto, an adjusting chain attached thereto, hook members for securing said fastener to the haines and one of which is connected to said chain, and means for adjusting said chain relatively to the last hook member, said body member being formed from a single sheet metal stamping and having a back portion provided with a relative-- ly long and wide upper face curved longitudinally and transversely to conform to and engage the collar with which the fastener is used and adapted to move relatively thereto without injuring said collar when said lever is actuated.

7. In an adjustable haine fastener, the combination of a hook member, a chain having an adjustable connection therewith, a one-piece sheet metal connecting member having a loop for connection with said chain and integral oppositely directed offset pivot lugs, and a one-piece sheet metal actuating and locking lever having side portions adapted to straddle said connecting member andV provided with holes into which said connecting member pivots are received.

8. In an adjustable hame fastener, the combination of a hook member, a chain having an adjustable connection therewith, a one-piece sheet metal connecting member having a loop for connection with said chain and also having integral oppositely directed offset pivot lugs, a one-piece sheet metal actuating and locking lever having side portions adapted to straddle said connecting member and provided with holes into which said connecting member pivots are received, integral oppositely directed offset lugs on said lever, and a one-piece sheet metal body member having side portions adapted to straddle said locking lever and provided with holes into which said lever pivots are received, whereby said lever may be actuated toV inove said connecting member relatively to said body member.

9. In an adjustable haine fastener, the combination of a one-piece sheet metal body member formed with a pair of spaced side webs ea'ch having a rounded hole therein, a one-piece sheet metal actuating and locking lever having a handle portion and a pair of spaced side webs, an integral offset outwardlv directed rectangular lug on each of said lever webs which is adapted to be received and bear in the hole in one of said body member webs and forni a pivotal connection between said lever and body member, each of said lever webs having a round hole, and a one-piece sheet metal connecting member having a pair of oppositely disposed CII and outwardly directed rectangular lugs adapted to be received and bear in the holes in said lever to form a pivotal connection between said connecting -member and said lever.

l0. In an adjustable hame fastener, the combination of a sheet metal body member,

a sheet metal actuating` and locking lever pivoted thereto, an adjusting chain comprising a pluralitv of links each having a Wide eye portion and a narrow loop portion, hook members foi-securing said fastener to the llames, one of said hook members having an aperture through which said link eyes may pass to permit said fastener to beadjusted and a reduced portion adapted to receive said link loops to hold said chain against movement in said aperture, a connecting member havinfr a loop for connection With said chain and a pivotal connection with said lever, and offset integral side portions on said connecting member adapted to engage the portions of said hook member adjacent said reduced portion of the` v, Combination of a sheet metal body member,

a sheet metal actuating and locking lever pivoted thereto, an adjusting chain, hook members for securing said fastener to the hames, one of said members having an aperture through which said chain may freely pass and said aperture having a reducedv portion for engaging and holding said chain when said fastening is locked, and a connecting member formed of a single sheet metal stamping having a loop for connection With` said chain, a pair of offset integral pivot portions for pivotal connection with said locking lever, and a pair of offset side portions adapted to engage said hook member to prevent the unintentional disengagement of said chain therefrom when said fastener yis in locked position.

- ELioT ARMSTRONG.y 

